Rising demand and wear and tear on the nation’s roadways â€“ not problems with security, per se â€“ is causing the biggest problems for transporting hazardous materials. Improving roadways would increase hazmat transit safety more than specifically addressing hazmat transportation shortcomings, according to a report from the Research and Special Programs Administration.

If you havenâ€™t received a friendly visit from the feds lately, you likely will soon. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is making rounds of almost all the nationâ€™s hazmat carriers â€œto increase the level of awareness of hazardous materials carriers to terrorist threats.â€

President Bush has nominated Ellen Engleman as administrator of the Research and Special Programs Administration. Engleman, awaiting Senate confirmation, is chief executive officer of Elecricore, a public-private energy solutions partnership based in Indianapolis.

Who regulates the loading, storage and unloading of fuel sent in transit? The Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Transportation, Occupational Safety & Health Administration or some state or local office? Truth is, itâ€™s not completely clear and government officials are as likely as anyone, to feel confused.

President Bushâ€™s call for increasing weatherization funding got a boost in Congress as both houses approved fiscal year 2002 budget plans with his request for $1.4 billion for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program next year.